Reports suggest that the Nikkei Average is expected to trade firmly against the backdrop of gains in U.S. stocks, drawing attention to market developments from 8 August onward. The report reviews the earnings trends of Japanese companies and upcoming market closures, with coverage from LIMO as its focus.
In the Tokyo stock market on 7 August 2026, the Nikkei Average closed at ¥65,606.71, down ¥76.55 from the previous day, with movements in AI-related and semiconductor-related stocks cited as an influence. SoftBank Group reported net profit of ¥347.3 billion for April-June 2026, down 18% year on year, which was viewed as negative for its share price. Lasertec's consolidated net profit for the fiscal year ending June 2027 is expected to be ¥90 billion, below market forecasts, providing a focus for investors.
In developments in the U.S. market reported the same day, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rebounded and closed higher than the previous day. The July U.S. employment report showed that nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 month on month, prompting broader expectations that the prospect of an early rate hike by the Federal Reserve would recede and encouraging risk-taking. This has heightened interest in the correlation between Japanese and U.S. equities.
As for the Nikkei Average's future direction, the Tokyo market will be closed on the 11th for Mountain Day, and a market environment prone to profit-taking is anticipated, with some pointing to the possibility that aggressive buying will be restrained. In the near term, earnings announcements by Rakuten Group and Sanrio are scheduled, while the Bank of Japan is also expected to release its Summary of Opinions from its July monetary policy meeting on the same day.